How does a disabled woman perceive love and life? That is the question that took me to talk to the podiatrist Marta Ohallorans Rivero, who suffers from achondroplasia that is the most frequent cause of the short extremities dwarfism. It is a genetic disorder that is accompanied by cranial irregularities and long bones.

Once at the surgery, which is the place where she daily looks after of the feet of her patients, I found a nice woman who was a meter high tall approximately. She is 46 years old and assures that her disability is not a problem for her life given it has not prevented her from creating a family and feeling like a useful and fulfilled woman.

Journalist: How does Marta feel her life?

Marta Ohallorans: Tall, pretty, gentile, wonderful and happy of being alive.

Journalist: What about love?

Marta Ohallorans: Wow, I do like it. I do admire my son, my family, my Chucho, who is my husband, also my work, my patients and all that is around me.

Journalist: Please, talk to me about your family.

Marta Ohallorans: I have my mother and my dad who are divorced and three sisters. I am the smallest and younger of this family. My sisters are as tall as my parents, but I was “the least favored one physically, “although I am the most quick-tempered one. My son says that I am the smallest girl and the one who controls every one. Therefore, all what I say is simply done.

Journalist: Is there any family member of mine who have also your genetic condition?

Marta Ohallorans: This story began with me and my child is also like me physically. He says that he hopes his son could be like him so that he would be able to control him in the same way I guide him.

Journalist: How was your adolescence?

Marta Ohallorans: I was not a meter tall and my parents sent me towards a scholarship. The adolescence is a difficult period; however, I faced it and was scholar holder during my High School and Senior High School. I did all that any common person would do during that period of my life.

Journalist: Has you ever married?

Marta Ohallorans: I got married with the father of my son, but we got divorced and I have now a relationship that has lasted many years. It is a stable relationship. We get alone very well. I say that he loves me more than I could love him. We are almost always together and we have a pretty good and close identification with one another.

Journalist: How is your son like?

Marta Ohallorans: Wow, my son is really a vivacious boy. I often think that I cannot have another one like him. He is 18 years old. I have taught him to live like I have lived with my disability. He is a short boy, but he has faced life properly to the extent that he has made adventures, a documentary of the poor movie and does not feel afraid of anything just like I am.

Journalist: Which are the typical features of Marta?

Marta Ohallorans: Marta speaks in low voice, but as I am a small woman, I often think that that tall people do not listen to me properly. Therefore, Marta talks to everyone and makes jokes with everybody. Marta is not a sad or upset woman.

Journalist: Which way you face your life?

Marta Ohallorans: I see life so natural and normal that I do not see any step on which I should wait. On the contrary, I just move forward in my life.

Journalist: What is your advice for people living in a world featured by differences?

Marta Ohallorans: Just to live their lives properly as well as helping the neighbor to live it. The physical complex is something that exists in the society given there are some people who watch us as if there was the first time they watch a disabled person, while there are other ones who are watched by others due to their deformity attracts their attention. However, the other part is the mockery and people should have feelings, so, that is precisely the moment when I ask them what is going on and add that I am a normal person, who walk and can be their friend.

Journalist: Do you get alone with your patients?

Marta Ohallorans: My patients are normally adult people. However, I also receive children, young people, and middle age people who are mostly adults who need a great affection although they say to me that I have a very strong character, but we have a good communication. They say that I am strong due to I demand and teach them to look after of their feet, the way they should go to the doctor as well as the fact if they were diabetic ones, they would have a proper concern and attention with their feet. Besides, I tell them off if they do not comply with their treatment, however, we get alone well.

Journalist: Which are the main motivations in your life?

Marta Ohallorans: I strive for keeping united my family as well as for educating my son in the principles of the Revolution. I strive for achieving that people could have natural feelings and are not concern for the human part of life, I strive for people to live their moments as well as for all the valuable things I see in front of me. By Laura E. Pérez Ceruto